Hyena's e-bike builds (now with HD video)

[Hyena]

Forgot the updated pics - getting there:
Satin black respray on the frame and forks - unfortunately rather soft paint despite being the supposedly hardest epoxy enamel around
I forsee a sandblast and powder coat in the future.
Still to come is a set of gold anodized lock on grips and also seatpost clamp. That's it for the colour coding and should hopefully finish it off nicely without looking too over the top. Bars are carbon and the battery door will also get the carbon treatment (though will probably be largely covered by the controller)
I resisted the urge to go nuts with the gold anodized stuff, also available were gold seatpost, bars, crank set, pedals, bottom bracket, stem, chain, floating rotors, hubs, brake calipers and levers - in other words pretty much every part of the bike minus the frame. haha

I might get a carbon seat post later to match the bars but I'm not too fussed. The bars are the first carbon item I've ever had on any of my bikes. Everyone knows CF is light but after being used to the heft of cr-mo bars they feel like they're made of cardboard! Their lack of weight is almost unsettling considering the implications if they break. I know they have a fairly well proven track record but still...

 

[Architectonic]

Looks nice though!

 

[pendragon8000]

Yeah Jay that looks really nice. I found that black epoxy enamel to be a bit flakey to. it sort of looks good but its not like regular fast drying spay paint. i think cos its winter it doesnt set properly for a few days (i used some a week ago on a stem spacer) dont make the mistake of leaving it infront of a heater either, that totally stuffed my finish.
so was this your old red bike Timma welded for you? I've been checking his thread on the intense m3 again 'cos im thinking about doing something simalar. he weld like a boss hey? hows your welding / custom frame going?

 

[thewmatusmoloki]

Looks shit hot mate, you'll be commuting in high style ! (and hopefully not "highside")

No worries about the rims, did a 2 hour internet search and determined that you were on to something pretty special with those particular rims, before I asked.....
Not surprised that it's not easily repeatable.... cheers anyway.

 

[Rix]

Jay, thanks for posting the pic, that is just beautiful. Gives me an idea for color scheme on my home build if I get started on it. May use Prowheel racing gold rims on it and go glossy power coat like this. I like this color scheme that much.

Rick

 

[Hyena]

Cool guys, glad you like
I guess it could be easily overdone but rims and a few other matching highlights doesn't look too tacky. Probably just about any colour (red, blue, green etc) with everything else all black would probably look good.

Ken, yeah this is the frame I previously had painted red, the one i had timma cut and shut. I did actually have it up for sale but for what it cost me to have done it wasn't worth selling in the end (ie no takers for what I wanted) so decided to build up this with it. My previous plans were to use a 3k carbon frame and slim battery housing but I was a bit sus about reinforcing the drops and putting 2kw through a carbon frame. Custom frame plans are still on the table, just trying to find someone to weld up a prototype - though not too desperately admittedly as I have so much else going on - primarily my day job and other half done projects.

OK for those that wanna see more of the tram shed here's the video I went back to make, kinda made in the style of first person shooter video game as it seemed perfect for
Yeah, I'm a terrible nerd :lol:
I tried to chromakey in some monsters/baddies but with the moving first person view it wasn't possible without complex 3D modeling.

[youtube]NiX0H91Dn2A[/youtube]

 

[ROG130]

ha ha love the video jay
very cool and the sound track was spot on :wink:

 

[Sigmacom]

Great job on the video Jay ... Watch out - next time you're down there Ill be waiting to jump out and scare the cra* out of you!

 

[Hyena]

haha come at me bro! I'll dirty your clothes with my blunt rusty knife and intimidate you with my kid's toy gun
Bring a few mates and some props and I'll make a proper clip this time

You like the authentic sound effects of cocking the gun ? I was impressed when I played the footage back, that was the real sound it made of me just sliding the torch over the rigid plastic top of the gun :lol:

The place was all abandoned (as you know having since checked it out too) but when I first went in I was creeping around quitely incase there were bums or junkies or something in there. When I saw the bar fridge in the bus I thought someone may have been living there but there was no power anywhere near it nor other signs of occupation. I did think someone else had come in at once point when I was up the back and heard a noise up at the front. I grabbed an empty paint can and lobbed it a few trains away in the opposite direction as a distraction while quickly shuffling back to the front door. But as I was about to exit I found the noise was caused by the wind tunning through the place and the door banging. Got myself too carried away

 

[pendragon8000]

"Hyena - the game" nice one.
lucky you didnt have to try your odds of rusty knife and fake pistol vs junky with filthy needle. i was hopeing for some beer power up in the fridge

oh yeah, with that resprayed bike you say you tryed to sell, can you tell us around about what price you wanted or were offered? sorry if thats asking to much. I'm curious because its a tough one as most here would know, it all adds up electrics and bike and then paying (even at mates rates) for a custom welding job like that. i was thinking the fact it's got that cool welding mod cancels out the fact it second hand (in $) so about $3K if you made it for someone but considering you put a few K's on it I'd say mid 2K's to sort of break even? I read today "a bike is worth what someone is willing to pay for it". I honestly thought that would have sold because many ppl have commented on it, I was drewling when i first saw the pics of it.
if you dont mind... the old version:
[youtube]b3hgCLdhVG8[/youtube]

 

[winkinatcha]

Heh Pendragon, E/S Aussie Section is a pretty tough market, where peeps such as yourself who KNOW the actual costs and are willing to pay are few and far between... there were times, earlier at the start of my business, when I was buying stuff from e/s members ABOVE their asking price 'cos I knew what their stuff actually meant and no-one else was willing to step up.

Nowadays, I only "advertise" on E/S outta respect for the board/forums and I chase the odd member with offers 'cos I know I provide stuff at prices below ALL commercial dealers. I don't really make sales here though, cos like I've said... it's a pretty tough market.

Joe

 

[Hyena]

lucky you didnt have to try your odds of rusty knife and fake pistol vs junky with filthy needle.

You know that didnt even really occur to me at the time. It's in a kind of out of the way place and I figured the recent demolition activity near by would have flushed out anyone that might have otherwise been there. I just strolled in with my bike, tripod, slr and a packpack full of gear and started setting up :lol:
Atleast I had a full face helmet on - with the gopro taped to teh top of the mouth part sitting level with my nose so 3/4 blocking my vision!

i was hopeing for some beer power up in the fridge

haha all sorts of possibilities I could do with that place! I have a few ideas for another video if I had a few people to take with me and a few more props.

oh yeah, with that resprayed bike you say you tryed to sell, can you tell us around about what price you wanted or were offered?

I didnt really have any serious offers. I think I was chasing around a grand for it which is less than what it cost me. Initial purchase price + materials and payment to timma + shipping was around a grand, plus $200 odd (possibly 300, I cant remember) for the rear shock.
I guess I'm still happy to sell it if someone wants it but the wheel set isnt for sale, that actually ended up costing me a packet!
About $450 for the pair, and that's not including the motor! (custom spokes and lacing aint cheap)

I'd say mid 2K's to sort of break even?

Probably more, depends on the spec of the gear on it. The front brakes and forks cost over $500 but I'd probably keep those for another build, or sell seperately.

I read today "a bike is worth what someone is willing to pay for it". I honestly thought that would have sold because many ppl have commented on it, I was drewling when i first saw the pics of it.

Exactly right, when I first made it everyone was like "zomg that's awesome I'd sooo buy one of those if they were available" then when I actually wanted to sell it, *crickets* haha. It's always the way though. If I built a 2kw kit and advertised it in the for sale forum here no one would want it, but wait 2 weeks and some random on youtube will email me and ask how quickly they can buy one.
My original intention was to build up a small run of them and sell them as turn key ebikes - high powered commuters that'd didn't stick out but were also capable for casual offroading. Basically for the sort of people that might be looking at a stealth fighter with crazy bob tyres to only ride to work, but didnt want to stick out, or pay the price tag, or fit a DIY kit.
Maybe I'll still get around to it one day...
But yeah as Joe says it's tough to do here in Australia, and probably most of the western world too for that matter. Most people google basic ebike kits online and expect everything to be around that price. Or look up the price of cheap lipo and expect to walk away with a battery for $300. When I first started making kits I had a heap of free time and enjoyed bringing the awesomeness of ebiking the otherwise uninitiated. The later is still true but I have so little spare time these days that it's getting increasingly more difficult to find the time. And when I do get an hour here and there obviously I'm not enthused to spend it huffing solder fumes and burning my fingers for chinese slave labour rates.
As Joe says ES is largely not the place to try and sell kits, but I find alot of people I've made stuff for were relative noobs (or total :lol: ) but came here afterwards and have ended up building their own second bike (or for others) after alot of reading and a good working model to go off. And thats pretty cool
I guess for all those people out there that expect the 100km/hr wheelie monster turn key ebikes for $1000 there's also a pile of people who happily throw down 10k for a stealth bomber, so swings and round abouts. I know I wouldn't like to be trying to rely on selling ebikes for a living though! Having to actively chase sales and convince people to buy stuff from me is not how I roll.

 

[Rix]

Great video Jay, and yah beer power ups would be tits .

[quoteExactly right, when I first made it everyone was like "zomg that's awesome I'd sooo buy one of those if they were available" then when I actually wanted to sell it, *crickets* haha. It's always the way though. If I built a 2kw kit and advertised it in the for sale forum here no one would want it, but wait 2 weeks and some random on youtube will email me and ask how quickly they can buy one.
My original intention was to build up a small run of them and sell them as turn key ebikes - high powered commuters that'd didn't stick out but were also capable for casual offroading. Basically for the sort of people that might be looking at a stealth fighter with crazy bob tyres to only ride to work, but didnt want to stick out, or pay the price tag, or fit a DIY kit.
Maybe I'll still get around to it one day...But yeah as Joe says it's tough to do here in Australia, and probably most of the western world too for that matter. Most people google basic ebike kits online and expect everything to be around that price. Or look up the price of cheap lipo and expect to walk away with a battery for $300. When I first started making kits I had a heap of free time and enjoyed bringing the awesomeness of ebiking the otherwise uninitiated. The later is still true but I have so little spare time these days that it's getting increasingly more difficult to find the time. And when I do get an hour here and there obviously I'm not enthused to spend it huffing solder fumes and burning my fingers for chinese slave labour rates. As Joe says ES is largely not the place to try and sell kits, but I find alot of people I've made stuff for were relative noobs (or total :lol: ) but came here afterwards and have ended up building their own second bike (or for others) after alot of reading and a good working model to go off. And thats pretty cool I guess for all those people out there that expect the 100km/hr wheelie monster turn key ebikes for $1000 there's also a pile of people who happily throw down 10k for a stealth bomber, so swings and round abouts. I know I wouldn't like to be trying to rely on selling ebikes for a living though! Having to actively chase sales and convince people to buy stuff from me is not how I roll.][/quote]

This is the truth, I just started adding up the cost of components for my future build with the Super Powerful Hyena Hubbie/Controller combo coming down the line, when all is said and done, I will have around 7500 bucks into the machine, this doesn't include my time and the R&D I will be putting into fabricating the frame. Granted I am using top of the line DH components. So to manufacture this and profit margin? I don't know? But I would guess somewhere in the neighborhood of a Stealth Bomber, and I couldn't offer the warranty Stealth Offers and it wouldn't have a 9 speed gear box that's for sure. Granted my machine will be faster and some of the components, Fork and wheels mainly, will be better, but that doesn't off set the costs and doesn't give me excuses for not warranty the product. In the end, what's a persons time worth?

Rick

 

[Hyena]

I will have around 7500 bucks into the machine, this doesn't include my time and the R&D I will be putting into fabricating the frame...So to manufacture this and profit margin? I don't know?

Yeah one offs are always expensive. If you buy in bulk you can get stuff a bit cheaper but then you're investing potentially 10s of thousands in parts, and that doesn't take into account the trial and error / R&D to get it right and the piles of blown up, burnt out or just under performing gear you tried along the way to get a good working package. And then there's the personal financial implications of having all that money tied up. Then as you say there's potential warranty issues so you need to factor in extra mark up for that and the significant time drain that that can be (+/- dealing with painful people!) In the interest of time and sanity it's often easier to just shotgun faults and swap out the motor or controller.
When all that is factored in it's totally understandable to see how companies like stealth need to charge what they do to get by.

 

[winkinatcha]

If you buy in bulk you can get stuff a bit cheaper but then you're investing potentially 10s of thousands in parts, and that doesn't take into account the trial and error / R&D to get it right and the piles of blown up, burnt out or just under performing gear you tried along the way to get a good working package. And then there's the personal financial implications of having all that money tied up. Then as you say there's potential warranty issues so you need to factor in extra mark up for that and the significant time drain that that can be (+/- dealing with painful people!) In the interest of time and sanity it's often easier to just shotgun faults and swap out the motor or controller.
When all that is factored in it's totally understandable to see how companies like stealth need to charge what they do to get by.

PMSL Jay! It's like you have an insight into my Life!!!

Approx 50k and counting invested so far

joe

 

[Hyena]

Damn that's very keen mate, you'd want to be gearing up to sell more than just old beaters to uni students for that sort of investment!

On a completely non-ebike related note I saw masters (the hardware joint) has these 18v lithium ion chainsaws on special for fathers day for $56
Probably near useless but I kinda want one anyway, just because.

One of those strapped to the handlebars and pedestrians will never fail to get out of my way again

 

[winkinatcha]

Damn that's very keen mate, you'd want to be gearing up to sell more than just old beaters to uni students for that sort of investment!

Wow... Just... wow

Joe

 

[Sean9002]

One of those strapped to the handlebars and pedestrians will never fail to get out of my way again

Hahahaha

 

[dan974]

...any first-person bike addiction transfert to PC game during the injury and reciprocally ? FPS vs RPM :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Hyena]

Wow... Just... wow

I meant no offense by that, I haven't been online much lately and last time I checked in I thought that was kind of your gig.
But with 50k invested, that's some serious shizz. I had about 15k worth of motors in my workshop at once point after the big crystalyte group buy and I had stuff piled to the ceiling

 

[remf]

Wow Jay, just saw your new wheels...when you said "bling", I had no idea. That is a NICE bike....one of the best I've seen. Is it rolling yet?

 

[Hyena]

Thanks mate.
She's rolling, I've pedalled it around my front yard but that's all :lol:
It's still as pictured, no brakes, battery, controller or handlebar fittings.
I'm still tossing up on the brakes. I have a set of new avid codes here but they're raw Al finish and dont really fit in with the bike. I guess I could paint them black and get a rear set of elixers or similar that had similar levers. Otherwise I could just get a matching set of mid spec brakes (I'm not worried about the rear because they dont contribute much anyway) but it'd be a shame not to retain the beefy codes up front just for handlebar symmetry...
Especially since I can't use regen with a geared motor, that's something I really love about my other bikes with DD motors. For commuting anyway, offroad it's no biggy.

 

[remf]

Yes I know what you mean, I use regen almost constantly on the Fighter. If you don't go with the Avid up front, Magura MT-2's might be an option. I have them on my Bomber and they're great for the price...about $100.

http://www.jensonusa.com/!3bTMq9y2ef1-Cvz2np9!Qg!/Magura-MT2-Disc-Brake?cu=AUD

 

[Hyena]

Cool thanks for the suggestion. I still haven't made a decision yet, been looking around CRC and others to try and pick something but everything I go to get is out of stock

For those keen to see that big motor on my fighter the time has just about come
Riding home yesterday I got a flat just a few minutes from home. Big metal shard in the tyre and through the tube. Luckily the leak was slow enough I was able to get home on 10-15 PSI before it went totally flat. The once knobbie is essentially slick now so it was due anyway.
I tried to get the moto tyre on that 19" rim but without a 1 foot or longer moto tyre lever there's no way I'll get it on. So I'm going to take it up to a local motorbike shop tomorrow and see if they'll pop it on for me.
There's plenty of axle flat but I won't be able to give it too much juice until I get some torque arms fabbed up. I dont want to chew out my fighters main dropouts. Machining the axle down got it 4-5mm narrower too which brings it closer to fitting in a standard bicycle drop out (it's around ~139mm now)
It's not an issue for my fighter either way but I'm thinking for the masses.



In the mean time I'm riding the bike I rather coveniently built for my dad over the weekend.
Nothing too exciting but fairly neat and self contained. Magic pie, 12S lipo, turnigy watt meter and battery isolator as on/off switch - connected such that it breaks the series link in the 2 6S packs for simple balance charging. I just have to drum into him that the bike MUST be off before connecting the charger, otherwise balance tap fireworks. Else he can charge in 2 halves.



Tesla is up from melbourne and visiting this weekend so I need it rolling for then. I'm planning to head back to the abandoned tram shed and shoot a better vid this time with more people. I'm tossing up whether to make the baddies zombies or military types.

Anyone free on saturday and wanna come be an extra / star in my short film ?

 

[Rix]

Jay,here is a pic of the sky just after 2pm local from the shopping center near my house 250 miles (400KM) away from the fire near Yosemite. Smoke fallout. Can hardly see the sun. Glad we aren't there now, it would severly suck cow balls. I like your dads commuter with the pie motor. My dad just loves your Hyena Neutron kit. 1600 Miles sinces May. He loves it.

Rick